Resources
Talent Searches
Talent searches, which are usually associated with universities, identify academically talented youth and give them access to advanced academic programming, either on weekends or during the summer. Some searches allow students to qualify based on standardized tests they routinely take in school. Others give students the opportunity to take above-grade testing, as was the case with Duke TIP, which had given 7th graders access to the SAT or ACT for 40 years, until they shut down permanently in 2020. Since Duke TIP closed, there hasn’t been a clear source for talent searches in the southeastern United States. However, there are still search programs outside our region.
The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth conducts an annual Talent Search, which is open to students in grades 2-8. Talent Search participants can take above-grade tests, and students with qualifying scores on these tests become eligible to enroll in CTY summer programs, which take place on college campuses across the United States.
The Davidson Institute serves profoundly gifted children — the brightest of the bright. Qualified students ages 5-16 can apply to become Davidson Young Scholars, which provides direct access to a counselor who can help with school advocacy and talent development. The institute also offers scholarships and has a summer program for teens.
The Davidson Institute also published a list of more than a dozen talent search programs, many of which are open to students in Georgia.
Scholarships
QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to academically outstanding high-school students whose families have limited income. While the organization doesn’t specify an income level to qualify, most recipients of its scholarships come from families with annual income of $65,000 or less (for a family of four).
- The National College Match program provides full scholarships for four years of study at one of QuestBridge’s 50 college partners. These are elite universities, including several Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Wellesley, and dozens more. Students apply at the beginning of their senior year. Applications open in August and are due in September.
- The College Prep Scholars program is open to high-school juniors. Students in the program have access to networking and resources to help them prepare for the college admissions process. Recipients may also receive financial help for academic summer programs. Students apply during the winter of their junior year. Applications open in February and are due in March.
- The Quest for Excellence Awards are available to high-school juniors who “demonstrate strength in character.” Students may receive financial awards that can be used for college applications, college visits to College Match partner schools, standardized testing, and more. Application for these awards, which may vary from year to year, is made in conjunction with the College Prep Scholars application, which is submitted in the winter of a student’s junior year.
The Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that pays for four years of high-school study. Funds can be used for tuition at a school that matches the student’s needs and goals, as well as for extracurricular enrichment. Students apply in the spring of their 7th grade year. Applications open in March and are due in April. This scholarship is “need blind” — the income of the applicants is not considered in determining who receives awards.
Organizations
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is an advocacy group that strives to raise awareness of gifted children and their needs. NAGC supports and publishes research about what techniques work in gifted education. Parent memberships start at $59 per year. The site’s Knowledge Center area features position papers on educational issues that may be useful in advocacy activities.
Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC) puts on an annual conference with some topics of interest to parents, although much of its programming is geared at teachers. You can join the organization for a fee. GAGC’s resources page has links to many enrichment opportunities and information sources. One metro area county has a local chapter of GAGC: Gwinnett Alliance for Gifted Education.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted is focused on emotional issues of particular concern to the gifted, such as peer relationships, motivation, discipline and stress management. Offers webinars, parent support groups, and a free e-mail newsletter.
Information and articles
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page is a vast repository of information about gifted children. You can find scholarly articles about gifted education, book recommendations and lots more.
Gifted Today is published by what remains of the Duke TIP program, offering research-based information about raising and educating gifted children.
Acceleration Institute at the University of Iowa has information pertaining specifically to the use of acceleration as an educational tool for gifted children.
The Association for the Gifted (TAG), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is an advocacy group for gifted education. Membership is intended for professional educators, not parents, but the web site has some worthwhile information.
Gifted Education Press Quarterly was a free newsletter with scholarly articles about gifted children. It stopped publishing new issues in 2016, but you can still access back issues online.
The spring 2010 issue of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children Journal contains more than a dozen articles about how parents and teachers can serve as advocates for the needs of gifted children.
A Nation Deceived, published in 2004 by the John Templeton Foundation, is a thorough review of types of acceleration and their impact — both academic and social — on children. Volume I of the report is an overview of the history of acceleration, types of acceleration, and myths about the effects (especially social) of acceleration. Parents considering acceleration for their children may find it a helpful read. Volume II is a series of scholarly articles from experts in the field. Parents trying to convince administrators to consider acceleration may find this report useful in that effort.
Bright Now is a podcast about parenting gifted children, produced by the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. It seems to have stopped producing new episodes, but old episodes are still accessible online.
Professional Services
Dr. Spomenka Newman, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in the needs of gifted children. Her practice offers assessment, therapy, and educational advocacy. (770) 315-4554.
Susan Colgate helps high-school students navigate the college selection and application process. She works with students in developing their extra-curricular interests, identifying colleges of interest, preparing college applications and essays, and finding potential sources of financial aid. Susan was formerly the director of the Advanced Academy at the University of West Georgia.
Georgia Psychological Associates provides psychoeducational evaluations appropriate for twice exceptional (2E) gifted children — those children who have high intelligence paired with a learning disability. This practice, led by Dr. Steven Berger, will conduct IQ testing and gifted assessment without the need for a comprehensive evaluation. Call (770) 971-3303.
This page was updated on July 19, 2023. If you find errors in the links or the information presented, please submit a correction using the Contact page on this site. Thank you.
Gifted Atlanta 
Thank you for your very helpful post. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find someone to administer IQ tests without trying to also sell a label, drugs, or psychological services. As of today, 6-7-16, The Psychological Center at Emory does not simply allow students to take an IQ test for the purposes of educational development, or educational assessment. They want to sell more services than just the test. Do you have any other testing services in the metro area you recommend where you can simply take an IQ test?
Tim, I’ve been looking for additional resources lately and should be able to post something soon.
Dori,
Have you found anything yet? Today another psychologist said he was not interested in doing anything other than a full assessment for $3k. He did mention that rates were much less expensive in smaller cities and perhaps we should drive several hours to a different city for a lower rate. That doesn’t seem practical for just an IQ test. I’d like to have my son tested this summer so we can adjust his fall curriculum appropriately and make things as smooth for him as possible once we resume home school this fall.
On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Gifted Atlanta wrote:
> Dori commented: “Tim, I’ve been looking for additional resources lately > and should be able to post something soon.” >
Yes! I found a practice in East Cobb. Hope they can help you.
Great! Please post their contact information. Thank you!!!
Already did. It’s on the Resources page . . . Georgia Psychological Associates.
Have you heard anything about Dr. Stephen W. Garber? He is listed on the Hoagies list of suggested providers, but I haven’t found anyone else locally who’s had experience with him and his website doesn’t mention much about working with gifted children.
I’ve heard his name. He has, in the past, been a very visible child psychologist in the Atlanta area. I think he used to do a segment on the “Noonday” noon newscast on Channel 11. From occasionally having seen him on the show — mind you, this was over a decade ago — he struck me as more of a general child behaviorist. I don’t have any knowledge of his work with gifted kids. If you would like to send me a confidential message via the contact page, perhaps I can be of more help to you.